Document
Geneva, 26 June 2012
Your Excellency,
Greetings in the Name of the One God,
As the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), a fellowship of 349 churches worldwide, with founding member churches in Egypt (the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Evangelical Church of Egypt/Synod of the Nile, and the Anglican/Episcopal Diocese of Egypt), I wish to extend to your Excellency our heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of your election to the Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
At the WCC, we, along with our member churches and the many Muslim partners we have in Egypt, have been closely following the latest developments in the country. We have great admiration for the courage of the younger generation which peacefully led a popular movement seeking democracy and freedom, social justice and equality in citizenship. We believe that respect for the principle of public and individual freedoms in Egypt, including political freedom, as well as freedom of thought, opinion and expression, will be an example to be followed by all other Arab countries. We trust that you will guide the process through which these freedoms will be stated in laws guaranteeing their protection.
Acknowledging all the sacrifices made by thousands of people in Egypt, including you personally, in suffering persecution and political imprisonment to achieve this new future, we are confident that such a climate of fear will no longer be reproduced in the new Egypt under your leadership. You have indeed clearly declared, at several occasions, that you will be the president for all Egyptians, and everyone will be equal under the rule of law, which will protect the rich heritage of political, cultural and religious diversities in the country.
Together with our member churches in Egypt, and the large fellowship of churches around the world, we reiterate our wishes and prayers to the One God, that He may grant Your Excellency a successful mandate, and keep Egypt a safe and prosperous country.
With my prayers for your peace, and for the peace of Egypt,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
WCC general secretary
